I've seen many Mets fans blame the fact that the Mets aren't playing well on Carlos Beltran. Many fans believe Beltran's return has ruined the team chemistry, and therefore the team is not playing well.

That is simply not true. The Mets haven't been playing well since they went down to Puerto Rico and Jose Reyes got injured. The team isn't playing well because the team goes as Reyes goes, and Reyes hasn't been going.

The question still remains: Why is it that many Mets fans have blamed this funk on Beltran?

Many fans don't like Beltran because Beltran doesn't smile. Beltran doesn't look like he's having fun making millions playing a game. That's why people are blaming Beltran. Fans think since Beltran doesn't look like he's having fun, he's not having fun and is a cancer in the clubhouse. That is simply not true.

Beltran doesn't talk much to the media, and fans don't like that. I think this is similar to the home run battle between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle in 1961 and how the media favored Mantle, because Mantle smiled and talked to the media.

To this I say, "Perception is not reality." Just because Beltran doesn't smile doesn't mean he's not enjoying himself and certainly doesn't mean he's a cancer in the clubhouse.